The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) on Thursday announced that it had conveyed to the country’s Parliament a case file regarding hundreds of millions of euros in illegal subsidies doled out by a now defunct Greek agency, signaling that the investigation touches on the political leadership heading the relevant agriculture ministry at the time.
The long-winded Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE) had been tasked with paying out subsidies funded in large part by the EU. In the wake of the high-profile EPPO investigation and a resulting indictment subsequently commenced by the Greek judiciary, the government earlier this month announced the agency’s disbanding. The OPEKEPE’s duties and staff will be transferred to the independent tax bureau (IAPR).
According to reports, the former ag ministers under scrutiny for possible breach of faith are Makis Voridis, the current minister for migration and asylum, and Lefteris Avgenakis, the former deputy sports minister.
The case file was conveyed to Parliament via the supreme court.
The EPPO announcement reads:
Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) has referred to the Hellenic Parliament information regarding the alleged involvement of two former Ministers of Rural Development and Food in criminal offences. The Greek Constitution provides that only the national Parliament has the power to investigate and prosecute serving or even former members of the Greek government.
As previously reported, the EPPO has an ongoing investigation into an alleged organised fraud scheme involving agricultural funds and corruption involving public officials of the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE). During this investigation, information emerged concerning the possible involvement of two former Ministers in aiding and instigating the misappropriation (breach of trust) of EU agricultural funds during the exercise of their official duties.
According to Art. 86 of the Greek Constitution, if during an investigation, evidence should arise which relates to offences committed by Ministers during the exercise of their duties even if they subsequently leave their position, it should be promptly forwarded to the Parliament. This makes it impossible for the EPPO to fully carry out its tasks and forced the split of its ongoing investigation for what concerns the possible criminal liability of members of the Greek government.
The EPPO had to comply with the applicable national law, which forbids the EPPO to investigate and prosecute serving or former members of the Greek government. However, in our view, this limits the EPPO’s competence, in breach of the EPPO regulation. As this is a matter of compatibility between EU and national law, the EPPO has already reported this to the European Commission.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Greek courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
